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Forums - Discs & Movies - James Bond R1 Ultimate DVD's broken up...

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Adrian wrote: Cheddar J. Cheese wrote: Ummm, well, could be because NSNA is not an official Bond movie. It's a remake of Thunderball with an aged Sean Connery that competed with Octopussy at the box office. So since it's not official, that's the reason why it's not included.

It's an official Bond movie (in that it had the rights to use the James Bond characters); it just was not made by MGM (hence they disavow it). It was made by Warner Brothers.

BTW, what does fox have to do with James Bond. These were MGM/UA movies and I would assume that Sony now owns the rights, so why would Fox be releasing DVDs of them?

I thought you people are well informed. I read the other day that FOX now owns the right to all the MGM movies.

MAY 31 | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is moving its domestic home video distribution business from Sony Pictures to 20th Century Fox, the company announced Tuesday.

The move adds a bizarre, late twist to the long saga involving the sale of the fabled MGM studio.

Last year, Sony led a group of investors in bidding $5 billion for MGM, beating out rival suitor Time Warner. Sony ended up owning 20% of MGM as a result of the deal, along with a distribution deal for its 4,000-title library.

At the time, the deal was seen as a coup for Sony and the Sony-backed Blu-ray Disc format, which is in a battle for next-generation DVD supremacy with Toshiba’s HD DVD format.

Although Fox also is a Blu-ray supporter, the shift will cost Sony control over the timing and pricing of MGM catalog releases.

In explaining the move, sources said MGM—which for years excelled at marketing its catalog, with few new releases—has become impressed with Fox’s distribution capabilities, including its command of Star Wars.

Additionally, MGM is angling to re-brand itself as an independent studio, unique from its Sony investors. In March, MGM began revitalizing its domestic theatrical distribution division with several new hires.

“Fox has spent millions of dollars developing its third-party distribution system,” said a source at MGM. “And there will be a team dedicated to handling MGM product. In the past, Sony had to bundle their [product] with MGM’s. I think that we needed that individual attention. And Sony realizes that Fox is in a better position to handle it.”

For years, Fox has overseen DVD distribution for Lucasfilm content, which includes the entire Star Wars catalog. Also, Fox handles more limited physical distribution services for Lionsgate Home Entertainment and Anchor Bay Home Entertainment.

With distribution of the MGM library, Fox gains significant DVD market share. Fox will collectively hold distribution rights to approximately 8,000 film titles and stands to capture about 17% of U.S. consumer spending on home entertainment.

“The truth is that Fox has excelled at creating events out of films and catalog collections,” said a source familiar to the deal. “Who wouldn’t be impressed with all that?”

Sources estimate that Sony will lose about $30 million in annual distribution fees with MGM jumping ship.

“But that’s small in terms of making MGM overall successful,” the MGM source added. All the owners “are looking to raise the valuation of the company by the billions. This was a business decision to grow MGM.”

Sony officials declined comment on the deal’s impact.

MGM called the move part of its “reinvigoration” including the formation of its New Media division. The studio also is reestablishing its TV distribution in-house.

The Fox deal also continues the studios’ international theatrical distribution relationship.

MGM said the changes will not affect Sony’s distribution of the latest movie in the James Bond franchise, Casino Royale, which bows in theaters in November.

The studios will co-produce and co-distribute future Bond movies as well as Pink Panther titles. And Sony and MGM are co-financing with Revolution Studios a new Rocky film, Rocky Balboa, which will be released by MGM on Dec. 22.

"MGM’s motion picture distribution business is growing rapidly as we will release some 80 new feature films in North America over the next four years,” MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan said in a statement. “We are now ready to turn our attention to our TV and home entertainment distribution businesses. In so doing, we have identified another important opportunity to build out our business by returning our worldwide TV sales operations in-house and by consolidating our home entertainment releases with a single distributor.”

Stephen Etherton wrote: Personally, back in the day when I had them all on VHS, I always included NSNA and Niven's Casino Royal in my collection. Bond is Bond (James Bond, that is).

I agree completely, I own all 23 Bonds thus far, they are all together proudly on the shelf (yes, even Moonraker...). I was just trying to help clear up the question about it not being included in the sets.

I only have a few of 007's movies, so I will add some more to my collection with these. Personally, back in the day when I had them all on VHS, I always included NSNA and Niven's Casino Royal in my collection. Bond is Bond (James Bond, that is).

Adrian wrote: Cheddar J. Cheese wrote: Ummm, well, could be because NSNA is not an official Bond movie. It's a remake of Thunderball with an aged Sean Connery that competed with Octopussy at the box office. So since it's not official, that's the reason why it's not included.

It's an official Bond movie (in that it had the rights to use the James Bond characters); it just was not made by MGM (hence they disavow it). It was made by Warner Brothers.

BTW, what does fox have to do with James Bond. These were MGM/UA movies and I would assume that Sony now owns the rights, so why would Fox be releasing DVDs of them?

What I meant was that it's not part of the 007 canon (therefore "unofficial"). He already defeated Largo (and SpECTRE 10 years previous in Diamonds are Forever) in Thunderball. There's the whole rights issue as to who owns Thunderball and SpECTRE which is too long to get into and would detract from the original subject.

Cheddar J. Cheese wrote: Ummm, well, could be because NSNA is not an official Bond movie. It's a remake of Thunderball with an aged Sean Connery that competed with Octopussy at the box office. So since it's not official, that's the reason why it's not included.

It's an official Bond movie (in that it had the rights to use the James Bond characters); it just was not made by MGM (hence they disavow it). It was made by Warner Brothers.

BTW, what does fox have to do with James Bond. These were MGM/UA movies and I would assume that Sony now owns the rights, so why would Fox be releasing DVDs of them?

Ummm, well, could be because NSNA is not an official Bond movie. It's a remake of Thunderball with an aged Sean Connery that competed with Octopussy at the box office. So since it's not official, that's the reason why it's not included.

Finally, Fox has just announced the other two volumes 3 and 4. This news courtesy of www.digitalbits.com...

Just a quick late update this afternoon, to let you all know that Fox has just revealed the 12/12 release of Volumes 3 and 4 of their James Bond Ultimate Collection box sets. Volume 3 will include Goldeneye, Live and Let Die, For Your Eyes Only, From Russia with Love and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Volume 4 will round out the presentation with Dr. No, You Only Live Twice, Octopussy, Tomorrow Never Dies and Moonraker. Like the first two, these sets will carry an SRP of $89.98 each.

There's no word yet on a Blu-ray Disc high-definition release of these films, but as they've all recently been given new HD transfers, it's certainly possible once Fox reveals their BD plans.

In my local forum in Australia, some reader noted that "Never Say Never Again" was not included. He bought the briefcase set. Can anyone shed some light on this?

I'm not even buying the R4 that has came out last week. I believe in good quality DVD's and the only country that's doing it better than others are the U.S. Region 1. You can see from the bad reviews of Australian R4, why many Aussies are importing from the U.S. They, like me has invested thousands of dollars in good quality Home Theatre System, so they expect a good return from the discs. My friend the other day, said that all the R4 Lord of the Rings series Extended sets are poor quality production in terms of the sound and picture. The Star Wars prequels as well. You can see the bad reviews here...

One possible reason for the sets not being released just yet is because the rights are changing hands soon (at the end of this month I think) which is why the current brief case edition may be somewhat sought after. At least that is the state of play in the UK, and I am assuming there could be similiar issues elsewhere.

That's pretty stupid. Wasn't that why the '03 sets were so difficult? No order...

Vol. 1 is a joke. Vol. 2 is a SLIGHT improvement...

Either way, I'm sticking with my '02s. Took me awhile to assemble, not about to just "toss 'em".

But you're right, why aren't they here already if they're there now? 1 month I think is a good buffer (I remember back in '03 that R2 got "DAD" early May and R1 got it early June). Any longer and something is up.

Just FYI. I read in another site, that MGM has broken up the James Bond Ultimate DVD Collection into 4 Volumes for Region 1. Just like the last boxed sets were released in R1. Anyway, so far only Vol. 1 and 2 has been announced for November 7th.

Vol. 1 - (2 Disc sets of "Diamonds are Forever", "Goldfinger", "The Living Daylights", "The Man with the Golden Gun" and "The World Is Not Enough".)

Vol. 3 and 4 has not been announced yet. No other details has been announced either, regarding the artworks or SE's. Retail has been listed at U.S.$89.98 per volume. Shame though. The 2 Discs Special Editions of all Bond films are already released in the U.K. and Australia. I wonder what's keeping MGM in the U.S.??